Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. PrEP is a medication that when used consistently, has been shown to prevent HIV infection in someone who is exposed to HIV through unprotected sex or injection drug use.

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention PrEP website by clicking here.

WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM PREP?

The CDC recommends that PrEP be offered to anyone with "ongoing high risk for acquiring HIV infection." Identifying potential PrEP candidates begins with taking a sexual and drug use history. Some groups that may benefit from PrEP include:

HIV negative heterosexuals who may have an HIV positive sexual or drug-using partner

HIV negative women who have an HIV positive partner and want to have a healthy pregnancy

Anyone with one or more HIV-positive sex partners, particularly if the HIV-positive partner is not in care or does not have an undetectable viral load

Injection drug users

WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE USED IN PREP?

The pill approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for daily use as PrEP for people at high risk of getting HIV infection is called Truvada®. Truvada® is a combination of 2 HIV medications (tenofovir and emtricitabine). These medicines work by blocking important pathways that HIV uses to set up an infection. If you take PrEP daily, the presence of the medicine in your bloodstream can often stop HIV from taking hold and spreading in your body. If you do not take PrEP every day, there may not be enough medicine in your bloodstream to block the virus. PrEP can only be prescribed by a healthcare provider and must be taken as directed to work.

WHERE CAN I GET PREP AND HOW CAN I GET HELP PAYING FOR IT?

If you think you may be at high risk for HIV, talk to your healthcare provider about whether PrEP is right for you. The Gilead Advancing Access® Program can help you access PrEP regardless of whether you have medical insurance.

For those individuals who are uninsured,CLICK HERE for more information on what assistance you may be eligible for.

For those individuals who have Medicare Part D, Medicaid, VA, or are not otherwise eligible for the Gilead Advancing Access® Program, you may be eligible for other sources of assistance. CLICK HERE for more information.

If you have insurance and want payment assistance with PrEP through IDPH or if you do not have insurance and are not eligible for assistance through the Gilead Advancing Access program, CLICK HERE

If you have submitted an application to IDPH, and want to check the status of it, CLICK HERE

You must submit the following documentation with your application or fax them to the Department at (855) 253-9149.